The Black Marble (1980) User Reviews

the black marble

[mossgrymk · 6/10 · 30 January 2024]

This drama/comedy from Joseph Wambaugh, about cops in crisis, is all over the place. At its best, as in the scenes where detective Valnikov confesses his PTSD to his partner, Zimmerman, or relates his experiences with his cynical, dystopian ex partner, it resembles a good episode of the great 70s, TV series, "Police Story", which Wambaugh created. At its worst, as in the scenes with the bumbling captain and his assistant, it's like a not so good episode of "Barney Miller". And the stuff with Harry Dean Stanton as a sleazy vet pursued by loan sharks is another movie altogether so that this film has the general, awkward feel of two worlds, Bukowski, say, and Wambaugh, constantly bumping into each other. Maybe there was a way to combine these two very different parts into one seamless whole but, if so, it eluded director Harold Becker. You stick with it because Robert Foxworth, Paula Prentiss and Stanton are skilled actors and all do good work here, especially Prentiss whose ability to navigate both comedy and drama, often in the same scene, is admirable and reminds me that she had a dismayingly all too brief career, (basically quitting acting in her fifties). Also noteworthy is Owen Roizman's cinematography that brings early 80s LA, especially the parts bordering the Hollywood Freeway, alive for me. Give it a C plus.

PS...Both Foxworth and Prentiss attended Lamar High in Houston at roughly the same time. Ah, Google!

Black Comedy Among The Cops And Riff-Raff

[boblipton · 7/10 · 22 January 2024]

Police Sergeant Paula Prentiss is not pleased when she is partnered with perpetually hungover Robert Foxworth. She is almost frantic with boredom when their first case is Barbara Babcock's show dog being kidnapped.

It's a hilarious black comedy, filled with misfits and losers, based on Joseph Wambaugh's fifth novel. He hated the way they made his first book into a movie, so for the second time he raised the money himself to maintain control. It works very nicely, even though I found Foxworth not very interesting; first he's a drunk who keeps falling asleep, but when he sobers up he's a very romantic Russian who charms all the ladies. I just don't think he pulls it off. Still, the little vignettes, from Harry Dean Stanton as the dog groomer/kidnapper, to Richard Dix -- not that one -- as Foxworth's very Russian brother, to James Wood as the fiddler, make this an entertaining movie.

Bad Marketing of a Cool Film

[shepardjessica · 23 June 2004]

The only thing wrong with this movie was the way they handled it upon release. I'm not into Wambaugh cop films, but this was different. Good performance from Robert Foxworth and a lovely, nuanced one from Paula Prentiss (who was NEVER nominated; believe it or not). These are some messed up folks in L.A. in 1980 from different culture, but good cops. Harry Dean Stanton is perfect as the dog-napper, but this flick has a rhythm.

You never really know where this film is going; all the Ukranian background of Foxworth and Prentiss' patience with this troubled over-worked mess of a guy, patiently works a semi-romantic tinge to this strange cop film. It's a 7 out of 10 for sure.

THE BLACK MARBLE

[TCurtis9192 · 1/10 · 7 March 2020]

"THE BLACK MARBLE" (1980, Becker) is a mess that falls flat on its face without the novel on which it is based. This is an example of why an author shouldn't write a screenplay for an adaptation of their own book. Its elements, beautiful in the book, have no significance in this boring film.

Paula Prentiss is awful. She appears, at times, to be reading her lines from cue cards and at others is stumbling over them, barely getting them out whilst losing a grip on her character. Robert Foxworth is good as Valnikov but the character is not as deep as he should have been. Harry Dean Stanton is perfect for Philo but was not given much to work with and becomes confusing and forgettable. Madeleine Whitfield, whilst somewhat overweight, hairy and tragic in the book, is a beautiful woman here which just doesn't hit the mark. And whoever that was playing Bullets Bambarella is so out of place. In fact why have Bullets without Montezuma Montez? Clarence Cromwell doesn't shine in this like he should have either.

And the story is sped up and hacked to the bare minimum.

Bad film.

Everybody is consoling everybody

[manuel-pestalozzi · 8/10 · 28 December 2005]

This is an offbeat sad, melancholy comedy for which the viewer has to be in the right disposition to enjoy it. Somehow a last stance against total despair. But if the disposition of the viewer IS right, The Black Marble can bring many joyous and thoughtful moments.

The main theme is, as often in a script by Joseph Wambaugh, that being a cop in L. A. is just unbearable in the long run. Soft hearted romantic Sgt. A.M. Valnikov, member of the Russian orthodox church, certainly has chosen the wrong job and shows first signs of vodka induced paranoia. He is teamed up with outwardly tough Sgt. Natalie Zimmerman who says „this isn't a goddamn Chekhov play" - but does she mean it? The case the two officers are involved in is the kidnapping of a Schnauzer by a punk who happens to be a dog breeder and trainer. Valnikov flies to the rescue of the distraught female owner without being able to bring the case to a happy conclusion. The only thing he is capable of is offering solace, which he does in a way that makes his colleague, frankly, jealous. But the movie trundles to a generally consoling if not very convincing ending with everybody more or less happy.

The team around director Harold Becker made the best out of a tight budget. For me this is one of the most memorable L. A. movies with really beautiful locations (the great musical score by Jarre helps wonderfully). There are many hilarious scenes, especially all the dog world related ones, the violent final (and totally accidental) clash between lawman and perpetrator and an enthusiastic Mexican doctor who has to „clean up" lower body parts of the punk after he got his pecker between canine fangs („it's still there, but you may not want to use it for a few weeks"). Not everything is perfect, sometimes I would really have liked romantic scenes to linger on some more, the last scene falls entirely flat (did the budget run out?), but on the whole The Black Marble is a fine piece of movie making.

The ensemble cast is just great. The most intriguing character for me is police officer Clarence Cromwell, played by John Hancock. What else can he be but an angel? He has no other function but to be there when his colleagues argue or are downbeat, not least his boss who doesn't decide anything without consulting him. It all gives that character a strangely supernatural aura.

Another film no one has ever heard of

[bregund · 1/10 · 20 January 2024]

I've been around for a long time now and I've seen a lot of films, I never heard of this one. I'm watching it right now and Paula Prentiss is the most unlikeable female character in any film I've ever seen, it's quite remarkable. Maybe the character was written this way, but if so, why? She's simply horrible, the perfect example of toxic femininity. The characters keep saying each other's names over and over again. They're constantly eating, sitting down to eat, drinking tea, coffee, then back to sitting down and eating again. Then it's breakfast. Then lots and lots of talking that doesn't accomplish anything or advance the plot, all while Paula Prentiss rolls her eyes for the millionth time and sneers "Valnikov" over and over. Scenes that should be funny are as humorous as a tomb. It isn't funny enough to be a comedy and not dramatic enough to be a drama. Why in the world does this film exist?

Laugh-out-loud cop show

[Jim_McKendrick · 9/10 · 27 February 2002]

IMO, this is one of the most underrated films ever. I love most of Joseph Wambaugh's cop stories and this one was sheer delight. From the opening scenes, when the drunken Robert Foxworth is shown swaying back and forth at a religious ceremony, until Harry Dean Stanton ends up in a Mexican hospital with his genitalia mutilated by a Doberman Pinscher, it's just one long belly laugh after another. The only jarring note in this otherwise splendid comedy is Foxworth's mental flashbacks to murdered children. I think this is one of the few movies I've seen where the screen version of a story surpasses the original book.

Wambaugh book is ruined..

[EweLewz · 3/10 · 28 December 2004]

The Black Marble was adapted from Wambaugh's novel, which was clever, fresh, funny and compelling. The movie contained none of the above. Harry Dean Stanton's acting was the only saving grace to this movie that went absolutely nowhere from start to finish. Poor acting and painfully slow dialog made this "B movie" appear to last six hours. A true yawn-fest from start to finish. No need to add spoilers to this review as everything that took place was both corny and predictable. Considering Wambaugh was responsible for classics such as the Onion Field and The New Centurions, The Black Marble will be remembered as Wambaugh's Black Plague.

Lovely "little" movie that gets bigger & better on each viewing

[BurnKnee · 24 August 2002]

A very underrated film that can be called a cop movie, a buddy movie or an odd couple movie; mainly, one that's funny, human & absolutely beguiling. And it gets better each time I see it. The scene in which Robert Foxworth seduces Barbara Babcock (or vice versa) saying again & again, "I'll find your doggie"; the scene in which Paula Prentiss hilariously seduces him as a Russian gypsy song plays in the BG; Harry Dean Stanton as a dog lover who doesn't want to harm the dog he must harm to be credible as a blackmailer; James Woods' violinist who wants to stop playing & pee; the Russian restaurant; Foxworth's drunken opening scene in a Russian church--all are so wonderful & so well acted that the movie is an absolute delight. It's not to everyone's taste, but it sure is to mine. At first, it was a lovely surprise. Now, it's like an old friend.

A lot of Fun....

[wxbug1 · 9/10 · 10 November 2005]

I have this movie on VHS and haven't watched it in quite awhile, but I wanted to leave a quick comment. I found this movie to be quite funny and to be appreciated for the great performances by Robert Foxworth, Paula Prentiss and Harry Dean Stanton. It's a quirky movie to be sure but full of small moments of laughter and sadness. It has just the right pace although some might find it a little slow at moments. If you enjoy a movie that relies on good acting and not special effects, this could be just the movie for scrunching up on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn and relaxing. Also the surprise appearance by a young James Woods supplies just the right amount of comic relief....Enjoy!

Lovely Paula Prentiss comeback

[Chezo · 10/10 · 3 April 1999]

In 1980 Paula Prentiss returned to good form after a five-year absence from the screen, with this affectionate version of Joseph Wambaugh's novel. Less concerned with physical action, this is a romantic comedy that deals with the inner world of police detectives. In a way, The Black Marble is the second installment of a trilogy about people in uniform, started with The Onion Field and finished with Taps, all three films directed by Harold Becker, photographed by Owen Roizman and edited by Maury Winetrobe. Roizman used splendidly the Panavision format, while Maurice Jarre contributed a beautiful score. Robert Foxworth, Harry Dean Stanton, Barbara Babcock and John Hancock all gave very good performances. A nice cameo by James Woods.

Outstanding entertainment !

[besthook · 8/10 · 28 August 2011]

I read the book (©1978) about two weeks ago, rated it 8/10, discovered there was a movie version (©1980), watched the movie last night while "Irene" was storming our neighborhood. The book was slow to start and a bit difficult to get into. But, once the author "set the hook", I couldn't stop reading. What a superb composition. But then comes the movie... Hollywood did an outstanding job moving the book to film. The last time I enjoyed a book/film combination as much as this was for "Get Shorty". Well done Wambaugh! Thanks much.

The character development within the film is excellent with plenty of concentration on the major & minor players... one reason the movie is as long as it is. Some may complain, but one can't really appreciate how well this development supports the overall thrust of the movie without reading the book or watching the movie a second time.

A real misfire

[jimhass · 26 December 2002]

This movie has all the signs of a film that sat on the shelf for a while. When The Onion Field came out, this made Wambaugh (and James Woods) hot again, and they decided to release it -- that's my guess. Look at Woods, in the pre-stardom, almost extra role of the Fiddler.

The reason is simple. Robert Foxworth stinks it out. He delivers such a soft center in the role, the proceedings are even difficult to understand.

The other problem is that the dialogue is long long, pointless and drawn out. The action crawls along a foot a minute while the characters make small talk.

Paula Prentiss is fine, as is Harry Dean Stanton. But sometimes movies don't always jell, and this one sure doesn't either.

A worthy follow-up to "The Onion Field".

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 12 February 2022]

This adaptation of the Joseph Wambaugh novel (scripted by the author himself) is an offbeat, poignant combination of romance and crime drama set in L. A. Robert Foxworth ("Syriana") is wonderful as A. M. Valnikov, an L. A. P. D. detective with a drinking problem who's been transferred from homicide to robbery. The delightful Paula Prentiss ("The Parallax View") is Natalie Zimmerman, a fellow detective who's very unhappy to be newly partnered with this guy. But the more she comes to know him, the more she likes him. They are a true odd couple: she's a cynic and he's an utter romantic who was troubled at having to deal with the dark side of human nature.

Meanwhile, a hard-luck dog groomer named Philo Skinner (a typically marvelous Harry Dean Stanton ("Alien")) is desperate to pay back a loan shark, so he kidnaps Vicky, the champion Schnauzer belonging to Madeline Whitfield (Barbara Babcock, 'Hill Street Blues'), and holds the dog for ransom.

"The Black Marble" is highly offbeat, original, and affecting not only as it charts the progress of the Valnikov / Zimmerman relationship, but as it explores the idea of people who often seem to get the short end of the stick. Its characters are by and large engaging and worth getting to know: for one thing, Valnikov is very proud of his Russian heritage. It's also touching the way that Valnikov reaches out to lonely people like Madeline, and the way he desperately hopes to avoid being as cynical as his late former partner was. Skinner, meanwhile, is so pathetic that as an antagonist you can't really hate him too much. Even when he does occasionally hurt or maim an animal, you can tell that it eats him up inside.

The first-rate ensemble also includes John Hancock ("The Bonfire of the Vanities"), Raleigh Bond ("Pennies from Heaven"), Judy Landers ('Madame's Place'), Pat Corley ('Murphy Brown'), Michael Dudikoff ("American Ninja"), Lou Cutell ("Pee-wee's Big Adventure"), and Anne Ramsey ("The Goonies"), with cameo roles for Christopher Lloyd and James Woods, who'd been in the film version of "The Onion Field" previously.

"The Black Marble" receives deft direction from "The Onion Field" director Harold Becker, and is nicely shot (by Owen Roizman) and scored (by Maurice Jarre). It's an appealing story that has been somewhat forgotten over time, but is worth seeking out for interested viewers.

Eight out of 10.

Curious Disappointment

[G-Man-25 · 17 June 2001]

It's hard to figure out what went wrong with this adaptation of Joseph Wambaugh's fine romantic comedy/cop drama. Wambaugh himself wrote the script from his novel. Harold Becker, who previously directed another Wambaugh book, "The Onion Field," is back at the helm. The cast, including leads Robert Foxworth and Paula Prentiss (not to mention the outstanding Harry Dean Stanton)are all very good. But for some reason, the movie seems muted and unexciting, missing much of the book's humor and attention to detail. Not a terrible film, but definitely a case where the book was better.

One of the great neglected movies of the 1980s.

[ianlouisiana · 10/10 · 4 June 2008]

Far and away the best of the Joseph Wambaugh adaptations,"The Black Marble" is full of schadenfreunde,compassion,humour,love and all the emotions that make it worthwhile being alive. Mr R.Foxworth,Miss P.Prentiss and Mr H.D. Stanton are hardly "A" - List Hollywood celebrities,but they keep this movie punching far above its weight at all levels. Burn - out L.A. cop of Russian extraction Mr Foxworth is in a cycle of drinking and despair after a particularly distressing case.In the last chance saloon he is buddied up with equally screwed up Miss P.Prentiss.He becomes involved in a blackmail case set in the bizarre world of Dog Shows where embittered trainer Mr Stanton kidnaps one of his charges and attempts to ransom it. The dog's owner - Miss B.Babstock(spelling?) - is as bruised and abused as the two cops and she and Mr Foxworth soon enter a physical relationship based entirely on mutual need. Mr Stanton has the hots for one of his teenage dog walkers and is thus not thinking straight when he evolves his plan to demand big bucks for the return of Miss Babstock's beloved schnauzer. From this rather slight storyline "The Black Marble" somehow evolves into a serio - comic masterpiece with its dual centres of L.A.'s Russian Emigree community and the American Dog Show circuit. In a reversal of roles Mr Foxworth is the sentimental and sensitive partner,Miss Prentiss the knowing and pragmatic. It doesn't matter that you can guess the ending,this is a movie where the pleasure is in the minutiae and the performances.You can watch it again and again with no diminution of pleasure. Undoubtedly along with "Mad Max 2" one of the great neglected movies of the 1980s.

An offbeat treat

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 28 July 2021]

Burnt-out alcoholic romantic Russian homicide detective A. M. Valnikov (a wonderful and engaging performance by Robert Foxworth) gets transferred to robbery and partnered with hard-nosed cynic and divorcee Natalie Zimmerman (superbly played with delicious tartness by Paula Prentiss). The pair fall in love while investigating a dognapping case involving desperate dog groomer Philo Skinner (the always terrific Harry Dean Stanton) and financially strapped rich lady Madeline Whitfield (a spot-on sultry portrayal by Barbara Babcock).

Director Harold Becker relates the enjoyably idiosyncratic story at a leisurely pace while also offering a tasty blend of quirky humor and stark drama. Joseph Wambaugh's witty and perceptive script not only astutely captures the raw desperation of broken-down people trying to eke out a meager existence on life's fringes, but also nails how the thankless job of being a police detective can drive someone to a near breaking point.

This film further benefits from a rich rogue's gallery of colorful and/or seedy secondary characters: John Hancock as no-nonsense sergeant Clarence Cromwell, Judy Landers as Skinner's sweet bimbo assistant Pattie Mae, Anne Ramsey as irate hotel owner Bessie Callahan, Pat Corley as antsy used car salesman Itchy Mitch, Cristopher Lloyd as a sinister collector, and James Woods as a fiddler in the park. The central romance between Valnikov and Zimmerman proves to be both charming and moving in equal measure. A real sleeper.

(Very) Boring...

[Blooeyz2001 · 22 July 2002]

I saw the trailer for this movie in 1980 & it looked interesting. I had never seen it though until recently when I bought a copy for $2.99. I like Paula Prentiss, so I thought I'd like this movie. I didn't. I was very bored. Nothing interesting or exciting takes place. The romantic aspect of the story is tedious & mundane. I didn't find it amusing either. Paula looked great & the endearing, goofy qualities she conveyed in other films is toned down here. I was happy when this movie ended & I doubt I'd ever sit through it again.

BAD LUCK

[kirbylee70-599-526179 · 8/10 · 9 August 2021]

There was a time when the novels of ex-police officer Joseph Wambaugh were all being turned into film. Wambaugh made a name for himself describing in detail the daily lives in officer wearing the blue uniform on the street. The good, the bad, the happy, the sad, all were part and parcel with his stories. With THE BLACK MARBLE he moved slightly focusing on a detective on the downside with an alcohol problem but still possessing talent. The movie was a perfect rendition of that novel.

Sgt. A. L. Valnikov (Robert Foxworth) is an aging detective with a drinking problem. We find him at the beginning of the film drunk in church and leaving in the midst of a rainstorm. When he goes to pocket his handcuffs that have fallen on the steps of the church, he accidentally drops them into the front of his pants locking them in a most precarious place. Thus is the life of Valnikov.

Into Valnikov's life walks Sgt. Natalie Zimmerman (Paula Prentiss). Where Valnikov is scattered in his methods and disheveled in his looks, Zimmerman is pragmatic and well dressed. Zimmerman is upset that she's been partnered with Valnikov having struggled her way up through the boys club that is the police department. Unfortunately for her Valnikov's friend Clarence Cromwell (John Hancock) has the ear of the department's captain and the pairing is complete.

As their story unfolds we also learn about dog groomer Philo Skinner (Harry Dean Stanton). Philo was once the groomer to the stars of the dog world but has fallen on hard times. His wife berates him constantly and Philo is heavily in debt to his bookies. With nowhere to turn he comes up with a scheme to kidnap a dog and ransom the pet for $85,000 from its owner (Barbara Babcock). What he doesn't know is that she doesn't have the money.

Valnikov and Zimmerman are assigned the case and begin looking for clues to find the kidnapper. Along the way Zimmerman begins to learn more about Valnikov. She learns that he's a romantic, a Russian and that his restaurant owner brother loves him to death. She also learns his reason for drinking, the suicide of his last partner.

The movie is a bright mix of detective tale, romance, comedy and look at human nature as seen through the eyes of the characters. Foxworth is at his best here showing both that sad look when needed, the sloppy drunk and the romantic switching from one to the other with ease. Prentis is perfectly cast as the frustrated professional who may or not be using her romantic life to further her career. And Stanton has never played a sleazier character than he does here.

The film is directed by Harold Becker who also directed THE ONION FIELD the year prior, another film based on a novel by Wambaugh. That movie is completely different from this one with a much more serious tone to it. Even so he shows a deft hand here letting the humor and the emotions boil beneath the surface before being unleashed.

The movie was not a major hit. My guess would be not enough people were that familiar with the stars as feature film box office draws. And yet the movie plays as well today as it did when released. When I first saw this I was surprised at just how good a movie it was. I still think it's one worth watching and watching more than once. Kino Lorber has just released this one on blu-ray and it looks great. Now it just needs to find its audience. Give this one a watch, I think you'll be glad you did.

I think everybody in this film has lost their marbles.

[mark.waltz · 10/10 · 13 January 2022]

This is a delightful black comedy that within the first 15 minutes I truly thought I was going to hate. It involves a dog napping of all things, with police detectives Robert Foxworth and Paula Prentiss called to the home of a wealthy Barbara Babcock who desperately wants her dog back no matter what the cost. While Foxworth, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, is desperate to help her get her dog back, partner Prentiss is quite the opposite in feelings. In fact, she thinks it's a stupid case and makes her feelings very known. The kidnapper is a rather deranged pet shampooer, played by one of the most demented favorite character actors, Harry Dean Stanton. He gets into a curse fight with none other than Anne Ramsey, seven years before "Throw Momma from the Train", and if you thought the Kathleen Freeman cursing scene in "Dragnet" was hysterical, wait till you see Ramsey and Stanton go at it.

It's the attraction of opposites for Prentiss and Foxworth, with Prentiss quite strong-willed and opinionated, a true ballbuster, and Foxworth, having been through enough emotional turmoil in his life, is quite passive in every way. He is as far from Chase "Falcon Crest" as he could possibly be, absolutely hysterically nebbish and so big-hearted that he'd risk his life to save a bowl of goldfish in a burning building, and not care about the outcome. Stanton so hysterically funny that you want to see him, and end up in a prison comedy star. He is just delightfully wild. I can't believe how good the screenplay is, so consistently catchy that it makes me want to go back and re-watch the first 20 minutes but I did not like.

Based on the book by Joseph Wambaugh, and adopted by him, it is very literary and intelligent, and it's easy to see how Prentiss can begin to lighten up being around Foxworth, while the villainous Stanton steals every moment that he's on screen, even just ranting on the phone. This is a type of comedy where you have to expect to happen what you least expect to happen, so many wonderful twist that it really keeps you guessing. In addition to the great script and direction by Harold Becker, the photography is excellent and even the constantly used setting of Los Angeles becomes fun to look at. This is a comedy for intellect, maybe not something for modern audiences, but sophisticated and witty and definitely of a dark nature. A nearly perfect movie.